JQH John Q. Hammons Hotels

Mr. John Q. Hammons and the City of Huntsville, Ala., Celebrate Groundbreaking of Embassy Suites Hotel - Huntsville City Touts new Property as a Preferred Lodging Destination for Meetings and Conventions SPRINGFIELD, Mo., and HUNTSVILLE, Ala., Sept. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Mr. John Q. Hammons and the city of Huntsville, Ala., today celebrated the groundbreaking of the new $40-million, 300-suite Embassy Suites Hotel(R) located in downtown Huntsville's cultural and entertainment district. Slated to open in early 2006, the 10-story Embassy Suites Hotel will adjoin the city's 600,000-square-foot Von Braun Center via a climate controlled sky bridge. The Embassy Suites Hotel - Huntsville will be owned by Mr. John Q. Hammons and will be managed by Springfield, Mo.-based John Q. Hammons Hotels, Inc. (AMEX:JQH), the nation's leading independent builder, developer, owner and manager of upscale, full-service hotels, resorts and suites. More than 100 honored guests and friends attended a groundbreaking celebration at the construction site, and Mr. Hammons led a traditional turning of dirt ceremony. Participants held gold-colored shovels accented with "Embassy Green" bows, mimicking the color of Embassy Suites Hotels' green logo. Remarks were provided by State of Alabama Governor Bob Riley; Huntsville Mayor Loretta Spencer; Council President Mark Russell; Lee Sentell, director of the Alabama Bureau of Tourism and Travel; Wayne Bonner, chairman of the Von Braun Center Board of Control; and Mr. John Q. Hammons, founder, chairman and chief executive officer of John Q. Hammons Hotels, Inc. During a brunch honoring Mr. Hammons, state and city representatives recognized him for his commitment to Huntsville and the State of Alabama and discussed how the new hotel will positively impact the city's future. "The city of Huntsville has seen tremendous growth and development in recent years, and Mr. Hammons' all-suite, luxury hotel will aid in continuing to drive that growth. The hotel is expected to pump over $15 million annually into the Huntsville economy, bringing hundreds of new jobs to area residents," Mayor Loretta Spencer said. "Additionally, with the Embassy Suites Hotel - Huntsville adjoining the Von Braun Center, the city is on its way to becoming a premier destination for both business and leisure travelers, as well as a prime location for conferences, meetings and exhibitions." The Embassy Suites Hotel - Huntsville is Mr. Hammons' second hotel to be built in the state of Alabama and will complement the company's portfolio of 58 hotels. Conveniently located just 15 minutes from the Huntsville International Airport at the intersection of I-565 and Memorial Parkway South, the new hotel will provide easy access for both business and leisure travelers alike. "As Huntsville continues to experience tremendous growth, there is an increasing desire for a full-service convention center hotel to meet the needs of meeting and tourism guests," said Mr. John Q. Hammons, founder, chairman and chief executive officer of John Q. Hammons Hotels, Inc. "With a luxurious interior and top-notch amenities, I am confident that the Embassy Suites Hotel will not only meet the goals and objectives of the city, but undoubtedly exceed the expectations of its guests. We look forward to expanding our relationship with the Huntsville community, its guests and ultimately contribute to the city's rapid growth." Area Information Nestled among the mountains of northern Alabama, the growing city of Huntsville is consistently recognized as one of the best places in the nation to live and work. The strong local economy is fueled by high tech companies, federal programs related to national defense and space exploration, as well as many Fortune 500 companies and homegrown firms in the aerospace and electronics industry. Huntsville continues to attract new industries because of the city's diverse business base. With the Redstone Aresenal army base, NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, Cummings Research Park, and a variety of manufacturing, retail, and service companies, Huntsville offers a truly dynamic economic climate for growth. In addition, the city is the proud home of The University of Alabama in Huntsville, Alabama A&M University and Oakwood College. The Von Braun Center is the anchor of downtown Huntsville and houses 250,000 square feet of flexible convention space. Its sports arena, concert hall and playhouse are also equipped to accommodate major concerts, touring Broadway shows, ballets, and performances of the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra. The center overlooks beautiful Big Spring Park and a ring of mountains that flank the city's downtown area. Property Information To be built with the signature atrium style of John Q. Hammons Hotels, the Embassy Suites Hotel - Huntsville's decor will emit a contemporary flair that invites guests to enjoy the exceptional appointments and outstanding customer service that defines the John Q. Hammons Hotels and the Embassy Suites Hotel brands. The Embassy Suites Hotel - Huntsville will feature a variety of amenities for both business and leisure travelers. The property will have a private bedroom in every suite, a living room with a sofa sleeper, wet bar, refrigerator, microwave and coffeemaker. In addition, each of the hotel's 300 suites will be equipped with two color televisions, high-speed Internet service, customizable voicemail, Sony PlayStation and WebTV. Travelers also will be able to enjoy a sports bar restaurant and lounge, as well as full cooked-to-order breakfast during their stay. Guests will be treated to a complimentary USA Today every weekday morning, laundry/valet service, sundeck, cardio fitness center, 24-hour gift shop, complimentary business center, and an oversized indoor pool and whirlpool. Company Information Publicly traded on the American Stock Exchange, Springfield, Mo.-based John Q. Hammons Hotels is the nation's leading independent builder, developer, owner and manager of upscale, full-service hotels, resorts and suites, including: Embassy Suites Hotels, Renaissance, Marriott, Radisson, Residence Inn, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Holiday Inn and Courtyard by Marriott brands. With 58 hotels strategically located near demand generators, such as state capitals, universities, airports, corporate headquarters or office parks in secondary and tertiary markets, John Q. Hammons Hotels' properties are dominant in their markets. The company's focus is capitalizing on positive operating fundamentals in the upscale, full-service sector, converting existing hotels to franchise brands and selling mature assets, while reinvesting the proceeds and reducing debt. Over the course of his impressive career in the hotel business, Mr. Hammons has developed 150 hotels. For more information about John Q. Hammons Hotels, please visit the company's Web site at http://www.jqhhotels.com/ . DATASOURCE: John Q. Hammons Hotels, Inc. CONTACT: Scott Tarwater of John Q. Hammons Hotels, Inc., +1-417-873-3591, or ; or Melissa Conger, +1-972-628-7756, or , or Christina Teagarden, +1-972-628-7875, or , of Publicis Dialog, for John Q. Hammons Hotels, Inc. Web site: http://www.jqhhotels.com/

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